Statewide County GaArchives History - Books .....Introductory Remarks 1908 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 3, 2007, 11:34 pm Book Title: The Revolutionary Records Of The State Of Georgia Introductory Remarks At the beginning of the troubles which led up to the War of the Revolution and the independence of the British provinces in America, Georgia was the youngest, the most remote, the most sparsely populated, the poorest and, consequently, the least important of the thirteen. She had not suffered as had other provinces from hostile legislation, for no act of the British parliament of which the other colonies complained had ever directly affected her, save only the Stamp Act, which had never been enforced within her borders; and while the founders of the colony had relied largely on philanthropy for means to plant and nourish the settlement, parliament had appropriated, out of the public treasury, many thousands of pounds to promote its growth and prosperity. Her people, therefore, had but little to complain of, and much for which to be grateful. She was, moreover, surrounded by the savage allies of the royal government, and would, consequently, suffer more at their hands in cases of war than any of her sister colonies. Her Governor, Sir James Wright, was an able man, not unpopular with his people, for the province had prospered under his administration as it never had before, and all of his personal influence and all the patronage of his high office were used to prevent Georgia from joining the other colonies in armed resistance to British aggression. The result was that she was the last to join the confederation and send delegates to the Continental Congress. So slow was she in taking the final step that she was bitterly censured, by some of her neighbors who did not realize her dangerously exposed situation, for her hesitation, and her nearest neighbor, South Carolina, passed a non-intercourse law prohibiting trade with the people of Georgia and denounced her as that "infamous colony." But the sturdy sons of Georgia, under the lead of Houstoun, Bulloch, Wilton, Habersham, and their coadjutors, realizing their true situation and acting on the motto soon after emblazoned on their escutcheon, "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation," pursued the even tenor of their way until it became apparent that reconciliation between England and her colonies in America was no longer possible; then they hesitated no longer, but, regardless of the dangers to which they exposed themselves at the hands of the savage allies of the royal government, the smoke of whose wigwams could be seen on every side, put their colony in line with her sisters, and, in consequence, suffered more in the conflict than the people of any other of the revolted colonies. For twelve months before the declaration of independence Georgia was in line and had her delegates in the Continental Congress. For ten years after the passage of the Stamp Act there had been no inconsiderable uneasiness and apprehension among the people of Georgia. Petitions and remonstrances were sent to the King to no purpose, and in 1769, a public meeting was held in Savannah, at which Jonathan Bryan, a member of the King's Council in Georgia, presided, and the following resolutions were adopted and published: "We, inhabitants of Georgia, finding ourselves reduced to the greatest distress and most abject condition by the operation of several acts of the British Legislature, by means whereof our prosperity is arbitrarily wrested from us, contrary to the true spirit of our Constitution and the repeatedly confirmed birthright of every Briton; under all these oppressions, finding that the most dutiful and loyal petitions from the colonies for redress of grievances have not answered the salutary purpose we intended, and being destitute of all hope of relief from our multiplied and increasing distresses but by our industry, frugality, and economy, firmly resolved never to be in the least accessory to the loss of any privilege we are entitled to. Therefore, we whose names are hereunto subscribed, do solemnly agree and promise to and each other, that until the said acts are repealed, we will most faithfully abide by, and adhere to and fulfil the following resolutions: 1st.-That we will encourage and promote American manufactures and of this Province in particular. 2nd.- That as the raising of sheep for the benefit of wool will be of the utmost utility, we do therefore engage not to kill or sell any lambs that shall be yeaned before the first of May in every year to any butcher or other person whom we may have reason to think intends to kill the same. 3rd.-That we will promote the raising of cotton and flax, and encourage spinning and weaving. 4th. That we will, upon no pretence, either upon our own account or commission, import into this province any of the manufactures of Great Britain, or European, or East India goods, other than may be shipped in consequence of former orders, except only negro cloth not exceeding 1s. and 4 pence per yard, osnaburgs, canvass, cordage, drugs, and hardware of all sorts, paper not exceeding 10s per ream, fire-arms, gunpowder, shot, lead, flints, saltpetre, coals, printed books and pamphlets; white and striped flannels, not above 9 shillings per yard, white linen not above 15 shillings and 8 pence per yard, woollen and thread hose not exceeding 24 shillings 5 pence per dozen, striped cottons not exceeding 13 shillings and 4 pence per yard, checks not above 13 shillings and 3 pence per yard, felt hats not above 48 shillings per dozen, bolting cloths, mill and grind stones, cotton and wool cards, and wire thread not above 8 shillings and 5 pence per pound, shoes not above 48 shillings per dozen; as also the following goods necessary for the Indian trade, strouds, vermilion, beads, looking-glasses, and paint; and exclusive of these articles, we do solemnly promise and declare that we will immediately countermand all orders to our correspondents in Great Britain for shipping any goods, wares or merchandise other than herein before excepted, and will sell and dispose of the goods we now or hereafter may have, at the same rate and prices as before. 5th. That we will neither purchase or give mourning at funerals. 6th.--That from and after the 1st of June, 1770, we will not import, buy or sell any negroes that shall be brought into this Province from Africa; nor after the 1st of January next, any negroes from the West Indies, or any other place, excepting from Africa aforesaid; and if any goods or negroes be sent to us contrary to our agreement in this subscription, such goods shall be re-shipped or stowed, and such negroes re-shipped from this Province, and not by any means offered for sale therein. 7th.-That we will not import, on our own account, or on commission purchase, from any masters of vessels, transient persons, or non-subscribers, any wines after the 15th day of March next. 8th. That we will not purchase any negroes imported, or any goods, wares, or merchandise, from any resident of this province or transient person that shall neglect to sign this agreement within five weeks from the date thereof, except it appear he shall be unavoidably prevented from so doing; and every person signing and not strictly adhering to the same, according to the true intent and meaning thereof, and also every non-subscriber, shall be looked upon as no friend to his country." No move was made, however, looking to organized resistance to British invasion of the constitutional rights of the colonists until the 14th of July, 1774, when the following publication appeared in the Georgia Gazette, the only newspaper then published in the colony. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE Revolutionary Records OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA VOLUME I INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS, COUNCIL OF SAFETY, PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, CONSTITUTION OF 1777, CONFISCATION AND BANISHMENT, SALES OF CONFISCATED ESTATES, 1769 to 1782. COMPILED AND PUBLISHED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE BY ALLEN D. CANDLER ATLANTA, GA. THE FRANKLIN-TURNER COMPANY PRINTERS, PUBLISHERS, BINDERS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/statewide/history/1908/revoluti/introduc694gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 8.6 Kb